Education Method of Robotics with Jigsaw Method by Using RT Component

Abstract

This paper introduces an educationmethod of robotics with the jigsaw method by using the RT component. Robotics contains many areas of technologies, such as mechanism, electronics, and computer programming. Therefore, it may be a desirable academic discipline for studying current complex technologies. For studying robotics efficiently, we propose an education method of robotics based on the jigsaw method. The jigsaw method is an efficient method to induce collaborative learning. We apply the jigsaw method to practical training of controlling a real mobile robot. We design an education program according to the method and develop its educational tool. Our developed educational tool is portable and simple to use. It just consists of a small mobile robot, a range sensor, circuit boards, and a personal computer. The mobile robot is controlled through USB. Moreover, students make program by using RT component. The RT component is a standard software component in the field of robotics. By using the RT component, they can skip to creating programs to drive hardware. We executed an experimental lecture according to the educational program. Through the experiment, we discuss the effectiveness of the proposed method.